Day-night cricket was first played in November 1978, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in a one-day international between Australia and the West Indies.
Since then, hundreds of day-night matches have been played in the ODI and T20 format, but it took another 37 years for the timeslot to be played in Tests.
The first ever day-night Test was played in November 2016, between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval, with a total of ten having now been played: four in Australia, two in the UAE and one each in England, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies.
In the 2019-20 season, Australia is listed to play New Zealand in three Tests, including Boxing Day and New Year. This should be the first ever day-night series.
The matches would be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (26-30 December 2019), Sydney Cricket Ground (3-7 January 2020) and Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast (11-15 January 2020).
The Gold Coast should be host instead of the Gabba, with Brisbane instead receiving an ODI and a a T20.
This is the prefect time for a day-night series and the best time for Melbourne and Sydney to host its first pink-ball fixtures.
Big Bash games should only be played on Days 4 and 5, with Days 1, 2 and 3 purely focused on Test cricket. Broadcasters Seven and Fox Sports would love this – it would be a ratings bonanza.
Australia is also listed to played two Tests against Pakistan in November 2019. I would have this increased to three Tests – the first played in Canberra, second in Perth and third in Adelaide. Canberra and Adelaide would be day games, with Perth a day-nighter.
So there would be a total of four day-night matches played in the Australian summer.
More day-night Tests needs to played in Australia and at different venues around the world. I’m not saying all Test matches should be under lights, but definitely the majority.
reuster75
Roar Rookie
Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart are all suited to day/night tests as they're beautiful small grounds with picturesque surroundings. Brisbane is a good idea due to the heat and its struggle to attract crowds for non-England tests. MCG & SCG tests already work perfectly as they're played in the holidays so no need to change and draw good crowds regardless of the opponent. Real pity that India refused to play a day/night test, would've loved to travel over to Adelaide for it from Melbourne.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Based on viewing & attendance figures in recent years, I think most of Australia is already very comfortable with missing the end of the test match
Paul D
Roar Guru
At this stage I think they'll leave the melbourne & sydney games as the sort of 'boutique' day tests, while Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart etc do the day night stuff. Perth obviously gets a pass on this due to timezones
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Would be a hard slog convincing people to make the Boxing Day test a day/nighter. I'd like all of them to be day/night. Hard to find the hours during the day to sit and watch without interruptions.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Can't see test cricket ever being played at Metricon, not when the finest permanent wicket in Australia is just an hour up the highway. But I think day/night test cricket is the future for Brisbane.
Thomas
Roar Rookie
I love the idea of a New Years Day-Night Test series, but the Perth Test is impossible. On the eastern seaboard, Perth tests already finish close to 9:00pm. A day night test would start at 5pm and finish after 1:00am. Most of Australia would miss the end of the match.